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Short answer
RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) is an interdisciplinary association and ANSI-accredited standards developer founded in 1979. It establishes consensus standards for assistive technologies like wheelchairs and seating, administers accredited professional credentials such as the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), and advances rehabilitation engineering research to improve independence and device safety for people with disabilities.
Definition and scope
The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit association founded in August 1979 by engineers and clinical scholars at the Inter-Agency Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering. RESNA operates to advance the health, independence, and well-being of individuals with disabilities and aging adults by increasing access to assistive technology (AT) solutions.
RESNA connects rehabilitation engineers, clinical technologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, researchers, medical device manufacturers, and consumers. In biomedical engineering, RESNA collaborates with academic societies like the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and regulatory authorities like the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).
The society publishes Assistive Technology through Taylor & Francis. This peer-reviewed scientific journal reports applied research, clinical outcomes, engineering designs, and technical notes in disability technology.
How it works or how it is used in practice
RESNA operates through two primary mechanisms: voluntary consensus standards development and professional credentialing.
1. Standards Development:
Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on March 28, 1989, RESNA coordinates voluntary consensus standards through the Assistive Technology Standards Board (ATSB). The ATSB acts as the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ANSI for ISO international standards on assistive products. Committees maintain balanced representation across consumers, clinicians, manufacturers, prescribers, testing laboratories, and government representatives. Key committees include:
- Wheelchairs (WCS): Oversees RESNA WC-1 (manual wheelchairs/scooters test methods) and RESNA WC-2 (powered wheelchairs/electrical systems).
- Wheelchair and Related Seating (WRS): Maintains RESNA WC-3, harmonizing with ISO 16840 series addressing seating cushions, pressure mapping, stability, flammability, and microclimate.
- Wheelchairs and Transportation (WHAT): Develops standards for tiedowns and occupant restraint systems (WTORS) to ensure transit safety and crashworthiness in vehicles.
- Specialized Technical Committees: Support Surfaces (SS), Inclusive Fitness (IF), Emergency Stair Travel Devices (ESTD), and Cognitive Accessibility (CA).
2. Professional Credentialing:
Through the Professional Standards Board, RESNA validates clinical and technical competencies across AT delivery. The Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) credential, accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), requires passing a 200-question multiple-choice exam on assessment, selection, implementation, and training. RESNA also administers the Seating and Mobility Specialist (SMS) credential for complex wheeled mobility and the Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist (RET) credential for custom fabrication. Credential holders adhere to an enforceable Code of Ethics and recertify every two years with documented continuing education.
Types or related concepts
RESNA coordinates professional credentials and technical standards bodies across the assistive technology field, summarized below:
| Program / Committee | Type | Primary Scope and Function | Governing Framework | Target Audience / Stakeholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) | Generalist Credential | Validates competence in consumer assessment, technology selection, fitting, and training | NCCA Accreditation; 200-question exam; 2-year renewal cycle | Occupational therapists, physical therapists, SLPs, equipment suppliers |
| Seating and Mobility Specialist (SMS) | Specialty Credential | Assesses specialized seating, body positioning, and complex wheeled mobility systems | Specialty exam; prerequisite active ATP credential | Clinical seating specialists, mobility clinicians, rehabilitation engineers |
| Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist (RET) | Engineering Credential | Recognizes application of engineering principles to design, modify, and fabricate custom AT | Engineering evaluation of customized fabrication and technical problem solving | Rehabilitation engineers, clinical technologists, biomechanists |
| Wheelchairs (WCS Committee) | Technical Standard | Defines structural fatigue testing, braking, dimensions, and electrical safety | ANSI/RESNA WC-1 and WC-2; ISO 7176 harmonization | Test laboratories, biomedical engineers, wheelchair manufacturers |
| Wheelchair and Related Seating (WRS) | Technical Standard | Standardizes cushion pressure redistribution, posture support, and flammability | ANSI/RESNA WC-3; ISO 16840 series alignment | Biomechanics researchers, seating manufacturers, clinical prescribers |
| Wheelchairs and Transportation (WHAT) | Safety Standard | Evaluates wheelchair crashworthiness and tiedown occupant restraint systems | ANSI/RESNA WC-4 (including WC18 and WC19) | Automotive adaptation engineers, transit safety authorities, consumers |
Where it matters for labs, clinics or supply decisions
1. Biomechanical Testing and Laboratory Verification:
In research laboratories, ANSI/RESNA test methods provide standard engineering protocols to evaluate prototype durability. For example, testing wheelchair frames involves double-drum and curb-drop fatigue simulators specified under RESNA WC-1. Understanding these physical requirements allows research teams to verify safety factors during wheelchair component engineering before initiating clinical trials.
2. Clinical Prescriptions and Complex Rehab Technology (CRT):
In clinical rehabilitation, healthcare reimbursement policies require credentialed oversight for complex mobility interventions. In the United States, Medicare (CMS) and private health plans mandate that Complex Rehab Technology (such as customized power wheelchairs with power seating functions) must involve a RESNA-certified ATP during assessment and delivery to qualify for payment, directly affecting wheelchair billing and HCPCS coding workflows.
3. Medical Device Regulation and Procurement:
The FDA CDRH recognizes ANSI/RESNA consensus standards as voluntary benchmarks for premarket notifications (510(k) clearances) of manual and powered wheelchairs classified under Class II medical device classifications. Hospital networks and assistive device lending programs reference ANSI/RESNA standards in purchasing contracts to verify equipment durability and interoperability.
Note: This guide is prepared for informational, research, and laboratory administration purposes and does not constitute individual clinical advice or medical diagnosis.
Common misunderstandings
Assuming RESNA is a regulatory enforcement agency:
RESNA is not a government regulatory body like the FDA or OSHA. It is an independent 501(c)(3) scientific society and ANSI-accredited standards developer. While government agencies adopt or reference RESNA standards in regulatory guidances and procurement rules, RESNA does not issue recalls or enforcement sanctions.
Confusing ATP certification with a commercial sales license:
The ATP credential is not a vendor sales permit. It is an NCCA-accredited professional qualification that assesses clinical and technical competencies across assessment, equipment selection, and user education, governed by a binding code of ethics.
Believing RESNA standards cover only manual wheelchairs:
While wheelchair standards (WC-1 and WC-2) are widely referenced, RESNA standards encompass adaptive seating (WC-3), transit restraint safety (WC-4), adaptive sports equipment, inclusive fitness facilities, emergency stair travel devices, and cognitive accessibility.
Believing RESNA manufactures or sells assistive devices:
RESNA does not design, produce, stock, or sell assistive hardware. It functions exclusively as a professional association, consensus standardizer, credentialing body, and publisher of research literature.
Frequently asked questions
What does RESNA stand for?
RESNA stands for the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America.
What is the difference between RESNA ATP and SMS certifications?
The Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) credential is a broad-based, NCCA-accredited certification covering all domains of assistive technology assessment and delivery. The Seating and Mobility Specialist (SMS) is an advanced specialty credential for practitioners focusing specifically on complex seating, postural positioning, and wheeled mobility solutions.
Are RESNA standards legally mandatory for assistive device manufacturers?
RESNA standards are voluntary consensus standards. However, manufacturers routinely test products against ANSI/RESNA standards because regulatory bodies like the FDA recognize them in 510(k) clearances, and major payers or institutional purchasers require compliance as a condition of procurement.
How often do RESNA credential holders need to recertify?
RESNA credentials operate on a two-year recertification cycle. Certified professionals must document continuing education units (CEUs) and maintain active direct service hours to ensure their technical skills remain current.
What is the official scientific publication of RESNA?
The official publication is Assistive Technology, an applied, peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Taylor & Francis that covers rehabilitation engineering and disability technology research.
Sources
- RESNA. About RESNA and History. Available at: https://www.resna.org/About (Published by RESNA; read 2026-11-08).
- RESNA. Assistive Technology Standards Board (ATSB) and Technical Committees. Available at: https://www.resna.org/AT-Standards (Published by RESNA; read 2026-11-08).
- RESNA. Standards Committee on Wheelchairs (WCS) and Wheelchair and Related Seating (WRS). Available at: https://www.resna.org/AT-Standards/Wheelchairs-WCS and https://www.resna.org/AT-Standards/Wheelchair-and-Related-Seating-WRS (Published by RESNA; read 2026-11-08).
- RESNA. Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Certification and NCCA Accreditation. Available at: https://www.resna.org/Certification/Assistive-Technology-Professional-ATP and https://www.resna.org/Certification/Assistive-Technology-Professional-ATP/NCCA-Accreditation (Published by RESNA; read 2026-11-08).
- RESNA. Assistive Technology Journal. Available at: https://www.resna.org/Membership/Assistive-Technology-Journal (Published by RESNA / Taylor & Francis; read 2026-11-08).
